Research validates the impact of Invention Education

Continuous research activities at the Lemeleson-MIT program ensure the quality and sustainability of our programmatic efforts. Our research covers topics that delve into cutting-edge education practices and provides critical insights into the impact of Invention Education on student learning, engagement, and self-perceptions. By systematically collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, we make evidence-based decisions leading to the iterative improvement of our programs. By disseminating our research findings through scholarly publications and conference presentations, we advance knowledge of the processes and practices that foster Invention Education nationwide. The research team is led by Michael Cima, PhD; Stephanie Couch, PhD; and Tamara Galoyan, PhD.

Research Team

Invention Education is recognized on a national level

Federal Strategic Plan cover
The Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education
The Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education and Cultivating STEM Talent, authored by the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education (CoSTEM), was released in November, 2024.  Section 4 focuses on “Building STEM Innovation Capacity” as a federal objective. References to IvE include: "To contribute to the national aspiration, CoSTEM aims to increase opportunities to embed invention education and innovation and entrepreneurship training across the STEM ecosystem."
View the report here.
Scaling and Sustaining cover
Scaling and Sustaining the K-12 STEM Education Innovations
National Academies 2024 publication, Scaling and Sustaining the K-12 STEM Education Innovations, Systemic Challenges and Systems Response Report, (Chapter 9) presents many factors that impact the take-up of innovation in education. LMIT's Partners in Invention Education (PiE) program offers opportunities to address these together.
View report here.
Ice cream samples
Convergence Education: A Guide to Transdisciplinary STEM Learning and Teaching
In November, 2022, The White House released the report Convergence Education: A Guide to Transdisciplinary STEM Learning and Teaching. Invention education is named as one of the promising approaches for transdisciplinary STEM learning and teaching.
View report here.

Lemelson-MIT's Research and Reports

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A Foot in the Door Growth in Participation and Equity in Dual Enrollment in California
Michal Kurlaender, Sherrie Reed, Michel Grosz, Joanna Mathias and Katherine Hughes
UC Davis Wheelhouse, The Center for Community College Leadership and Research
Read the full article here
Addressing the Gender Gap Among Patent Holders Through Invention Education Policies
Stephanie Couch, Leigh B. Estabrooks and Audra Skukauskaite
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the full article here
Assessing learning and development through transdisciplinary problem-based invention education offerings
Stephanie Couch, Kelli M. Paul, Michelle Sullivan and Sabiha Sultana
Frontiers in Education
Read the full article here.
Becoming an inventor: a young Latina’s narrative
Cristina Saenz, Michelle Sullivan and Audra Skukauskaite
Frontiers in Education
Read the full article here
Biogen-MIT BioTech in Action - Summary 2020
Read the Executive Summary
Related Poster
Bringing Invention Education Into Middle School Science Classrooms
Helen Zhang, Leigh B. Estabrooks and Tony Perry
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the full article here
Comments Submitted by LMIT Leadership to USPTO Re: National Strategy for Expanding American Innovation
Michael Cima and Stephanie Couch
PLOS One
Read LMIT's Comments
Developing a use-inspired school and community-based 6th through 12th-grade research and invention ecosystem leading to STEM careers: an ethnographic study of the Science Coach Program
Melinda Kalainoff, Stephanie Couch, Fatiha Bazouche and Jill M. Ott
Frontiers in Education
Read the full article here.
Engaging Latina Students in the Invention Ecosystem
Cristina Saenz and Audra Skukauskaitė
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the Research Paper
Enhancing inventiveness for quality of life, competitiveness, and sustainability
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Failure as an active agent in the development of creative and inventive mindsets
Leigh B. Estabrooks and Stephanie Couch
View the Research
Heat Reinvented: Using a Lunch Box–Design Project to Apply Multidisciplinary Knowledge and Develop Invention-Related Practices
Various Authors
Read the full article here
Inclusive Pathways to Invention: Racial and Ethnic Diversity Among Collegiate Student Inventors in a National Prize Competiton
April Burrage, Janell Ciemiecki, Stephanie Couch and Ina Ganguli
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Download the full paper
Intersecting Networks Supporting Problem-Based Invention Education
Audra Skukauskait, Cristina Saenz, Michelle Sullivan, Katrina Hull and Jazmin Morales Rodriguez
Read the full article here
Inventing the Baby Saver: An Activity Systems Analysis of Applied Engineering at the High School Level
Jessica Gale
Read the full article here
Invention as a Complement to High School Chemistry
Varius Authors
ACS Publications
Read the full article here
Invention Education and The Developing Nature of High School Students’ Construction of An “Inventor” Identity
Stephanie Couch, Audra Skukauskaite and Leigh B. Estabrooks
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Read the full article here.
Invention Education: Preparing The Next Generation of Innovators
Stephanie Couch, Audra Skukauskaite and Judith L. Green
National Academy of Inventors, Technology and Innovation.
Explore the articles
Inventors emerging in-school and out-of-school: six iterations of educational design to promote equitable student engagement
Various Authors
Creative Commons Attribution License
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Measuring the Value of Invention
Benjamin M. Miller, David Metz, Jon Schmid, Paige M. Rudin and Marjory S. Blumenthal
RAND Corporation
Read the report
More on report and the prize winners
Peer-reviewed practitioner article in The Science Teacher: Let’s Invent!
Anthony Perry and Leigh B. Estabrooks
Read more on NSTA
Policy Initiatives Needed to Foster Female Inventors’ Contributions to U.S. Economic Growth
Download the Executive Summary
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Researching Invention Education: 2019 – 2025
Download the Research.
Researching Invention Education: White Paper (2019)
Various Authors
Download the white paper
Role models’ influence on student interest in and awareness of career opportunities in life sciences
Helen Zhang, Stephanie Couch, Leigh Estabrooks, Anthony Perry and Melinda Kalainoff
Read the full article here
Supporting teachers to lead invention education with high school students
Audra Skukauskaite and Stephanie Couch
Emerald Publishing Limited, Quality Education For All
Read the full article here.
TESTIMONY FOR USPTO SUCCESS ACT HEARING
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The Lifecycle of Inventors
Alex Bell, Raj Chetty, Xavier Jaravel, Neviana Petkova, and John Van Reenen
Article here
Transforming a National Invention Education Program through a Strength-based Approach
Stephanie Couch and Melinda Z. Kalainoff
Creative Commons Attribution License
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Understanding Factors Impacting the Development of Inventors from Diverse Backgrounds
Stephanie Couch, Audra Skukauskaite and Leigh B. Estabrooks
Technology and Innovation
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Where’s the Computer Science in Invention?
Leigh Estabrooks , Helen Zhang , Anthony Perry , An-Me Chung and Stephanie Couch1
Read the White Paper
“That Makes Sense Now!": Bicultural Middle School Students’ Learning in a Culturally Relevant Science Classroom
Deoksoon Kim, So Lim Kim and Mike Barnett
International Journal of Multicultural Education
Read the full article here